Draft rigging



June 12, 1934. D 5 BARROWS 1,962,704

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Oct. 3. 1928 22 m FIG. 4

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FIG-3 Donald S. Barrows Patented June 12, 1934 DRAFT RIGGING Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application October 3, 1928, Serial No. 310,010

13 Claims..

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to mechanism for operatively connecting the coupler and yoke while permitting vertical angling therebetween, and, if desired, also horizontal angling.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a coupler with a rearwardly extending stem, the rear surface of which is so modified that it is adapted to angle vertically with respect to an associated follower without increasing the longitudinal overall dimension of the coupler and follower.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler adapted to angle vertically on draft about an associated key and also formed for vertical angling on buff with provision for sufoient contacting area with respect to the associated front follower for transmitting the usual buifing forces, even when in angled positions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler stem, the rear surface of which is cylindrical about a horizontal aXis for permitting vertical angling upon the application of bumng forces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of railway draft rigging embodying my invention, parts thereof being shown in horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the rigging shown in Figure l, portions of the coupler and follower being shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the butt end of the coupler shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the follower illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there are shown parts of railway draft rigging involving a coupler l with a rearwardly extending stem 2. Although in the present embodiment the coupler is shown as of the swivel butt type involving a swivel block 3 pivotaily connected to the main portion of the stem 2 by means of a pair of pivot pins 4, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this showing. Said pivot pins 4 pass through intercalated webs or anges 5 on the coupler stem and 6 on the swivel block and it will be understood that the construcent No. 1,431,717 dated October 10, 1922.

The

intermediate web or flange 7 of the swivel block 60 3 and the adjacent portion of the coupler stem 2 of the coupler are in the present embodiment formed with supplementary portions of a slot 8 adapted to receive an associated horizontal draft key 9 which extends through corresponding slots 65 10 in the associated yoke 11 and into corresponding slots in the associated draft sills and cheek plates (not shown) in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

The pivot pins 4 are so positioned that their 70 inner ends do not encroach on the slot and nterfere with the key 9 and they may be maintained in position in any desired manner, as by means of cotters 12 extending between lugs 13 on opposite sides of said pins and engaging the outer ends thereof. yIt will be understood that the key 9, when in place, spaces the inner ends of the pins, or, if desired, said pins may be spaced by auxiliary means or in the manner illustrated, for example, in my application Serial No. 290,060, filed July 3, 1928, which matured into Patent 1,940,238, December 19, 1933. It will also be understood that although I have shown a pair of pivot pins I do not wish to be limited to this showing.

thereof.

The second key 14, as will be understood, extends through slots 17 in the arms of the yoke 11 and on into corresponding slots in 95 the draft sills and associated cheek plates (not shown) in the usual manner, said key functioning to retain the front follower in proper relation with respect to thecoupler stem for the transmission of draft and bufng forces therefrom through said follower to the associated draft gear or cushioning mechanism 18 and said key also serves for transmitting forces from the follower to the cheek plates and sills of the car.

The pivotal. means 4 permit horizontal angling 105 between the coupler and swivel block on draft thereby also permitting such angling between the coupler and associated draft rigging, as will be understood, and as described in detail in my Patent No.

Horizontal angling of the coupler upon the application of buiiing forces is also permitted between the correspondingly curved rear edges of the shank loops or iianges 5 and the butt pockets between the flanges 6 of the swivel block, such buiiing forces being thereby taken off the pins 4.

Upon the application of draft forces vertical angling of the coupler is permitted due to the clearance between the key 9 and the slots in the coupler, swivel block and yoke, said coupler angling about the rear curved edge of the key or the key angling about its front curved edge with respect to the yoke, or both, thereby permitting the required angling of the coupler with respect to the draft rigging and associated car. In order to permit such vertical angling of the coupler upon the application of bufling forces the rear face of the swivel block 3 or butt portion of the coupler stem 2 is curved convexly or crowned, as indicated at 19, said curvature being preferably cylindrical about a horizontal axis, the center of said axis being desirably at or adjacent the center of the key 9 or key receiving slot 8.

The front face of the associated front member of associated cushioning mechanism or follower 16, is concavely curved to correspond and mate with the curved portion 19 on the swivel block 3, as indicated at 20, whereby the necessary relatively large area of bearing contact is provided between the coupler and follower or cushioning mechanism, as illustrated.

In order not to increase the length of the follower 16 by reason of the concavely curved front face, said follower is maintained of normal or standard overall length and the central or slotted portion thereof is extended forwardly of the concavely curved surface 20, as indicated at 2l, whereby the slot 15 receiving the draft key 14 may be made of normal length while still surrounded by walls of normal thickness. The extension or-curved projection 21 on the front of the follower 16 is received in a depressionfor pocket -22 provided in the rear face of the coupler stem or swivel block 3, sufficient clearance,

o however, being provided between the projection 21 and the walls of the pocket 22 for permitting a normal `amount of vertical angling between the parts. It will be seen that even though the bearing surfaces 19 and 20 provided on the coupler and follower, respectively, for the transmission of buing forces therebetween are interrupted by the pocket and projection -on the associated members, yet, inasmuch asthese surfaces extend the full width of the members, an adequate amount of bearing area for the transmission of buing forces from the coupler is provided, even when the parts are angled, as will be understood.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I -have so modied the butt of a coupler stem or the swivel block of a standard swivel butt coupler, as adopted by the American Railway Association, by providing interrupted convex cylindrical bearing surfaces mating with interrupted corresponding concave surfaces on the follower that the desired amount of vertical angling between the members is provided for while at the same time the necessary area for the transmission of buffing forces is furnished. It will be understood that the purpose of the interruption inthe Ybearing surfaces of the parts is to provide metal at the front of the key slot whereby a `key of normal width surrounded by walls of the necessary thickness may be used therewith without increasing the overall length of the combined coupler and front follower.

Although I have illustrated my invention embodied with draft rigging using a horizontal yoke and two draft keys yet it is obvious that I do not wish to be limited to such a construction as modifications may be made -within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim.

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, a coupler stem comprising a plurality of relatively rotatable members, a follower disposed rearwardly of the rear member of said stern, draft keys extending through said stem and follower for connecting them to said yoke, the rear surface of the rear member of said stem being formed with interrupted cylindrical bearing surfaces and the front face of the follower being provided with complementary cylindrical bearing surfaces engaging the cylindrical surfaces on the rear member of the stern for the transmission of buhing forces therebetween, one of the engaging members being formed with a normally horizontal extension providing for the reception of the `associated draft key and received in a corresponding pocket in the other member to avoid increasing the overall length of the assembled parts.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, a coupler formed with a rearwardly extending stem, the rearmost surface of which is conveXly curved about a horizontal axis, a' front follower disposed rearwardly of said stem with its front face concavely curved with a corresponding radius about a horizontal axis, horizontal draft keys passing through said stein and follower for connecting them to said yoke, the front face of said follower being formed with a forwardly extending convex projection providing for the slot therein, the rear face of the coupler stem being formed with a correspondingly shaped depression for receiving the extension from the follower, suicient clearance being provided in the depression for permitting a limited vertical angling therebetween.

3. 'A follower adapted for use with railway draft rigging and slotted for receiving a connecting key, the front face of said follower being concave and cylindrical with a forwardly projecting intermediate boss dening the front end of said slotted portion.

4. A follower with its front face concavely curved about a horizontal axis, a horizontal slot through said follower for receiving an associated draft key, the front end of said slot lying approximately on the normal line of curvature of thel front face of said follower, said front end being surrounded by a forwardly extending convex boss dividing the concave portion on the follower into upper and lower sections.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a

coupler with a rearwardly extending stem, the rearmost face of said stem being curved about a horizontal axis, a front follower with a f-ront face correspondingly curved kand normally engaging thecurved face of the coupler stem, said coupler stem and follower havingslots adapted to receive lhorizontal draft keys, the curved face of one of said members having a normally horizontal projection to provide for the slot therein, the engaging face of the other member having a correspondingly shaped pocket for receiving the projection, said pocket being extended above andv below said projection to permit a ylimited amount of vertical angling therebetween.

v6. A follower adapted for use with `railway draft rigging, the front end of which is formed with a bearing surface, cylindrical about a horizontal axis, interrupted by a portion of reverse curvature extending horizontally from one side to the other.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler with a rearwardly extending stem the end of which is formed with a convex cylindrical bearing surface, and a follower associated with said stem and formed with a normally engaging corresponding surface providing for the transmission of bufng forces thereto, while permitting angling therebetween, the bearing surface on the follower having a forwardly extending boss defining the front end of a key slot therein, and the corresponding portion of the coupler having a dep-ression receiving said boss, with clearance for allowing for angling therebetween.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler stem comprising a portion rigid with a coupler head and a portion articulated with respect to said rigid portion for horizontal angling with respect thereto, said stem being formed with a slot for receiving an associated draft key, the rear surface of said articulated portion being convexly curved about a horizontal axis disposed intermediate the ends of said slot, said surface being interrupted by a notch extending horizontally the full width thereof, a follower associated with said stem and formed with a front surface mating with the surface on the coupler stem, and a projection extending forwardly from said surface, dening the front end of a slot in said follower, and received in said notch, with clearance for permitting vertical angling therebetween.

9. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler stem comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members, a key slot formed in part in each of said members, the rear surface of the rear member being formed with a pair of convex portions cylindrically curved about an axis disposed at an angle to the pivotal axis of said members and separated by a notch extending across said rear surface, an associated follower with a front surface normally engaging the rear surface of said stern, and a lug extending forwardly from said follower and received in said notch, said curved surfaces allowing for angling of the stem with respect to said follower in a plane angularly disposed with respect to the plane of angling of said pivotally connected members.

10. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler stem comprising a pair of sections having intercalated portions, pivotal means extending through said portions for connecting them for relative normally horizontal angling, said stem being formed with a slot adapted to receive a horizontal draft key, said slot being formed in the adjacent portions of said sections, the rear face of said rear section being cylindrical about a normally horizontal axis, said face being divided by a normally horizontal notch, a follower associated with said stem, said follower having a front face formed to mate with the rear face of said stem, and a boss extending forwardly from said front face and received in the notch in the rear of said stem.

11. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler stem, a swivel block with apertured parallel flanges extending in one direction and intercalated with corresponding flanges on said stem and pivotally connected thereto, said swivel block having a face opposite to said flanges formed with a plurality of bearing surfaces cylindrical about an axis parallel to said flanges and spaced in a direction transverse to said flanges, and a follower associated with said swivel block and formed with a forwardly extending lug interlocking with said block in the space between said bearing surfaces.

12. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler stem comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members and formed with an intersecting key slot, the rear surface of said stem being formed cylindrically convex about a normally horizontal axis and interrupted by a pocket normally extending horizontally the full width thereof, and a follower normally engaging the rear surface of said stem and formed with a projection from the front wall thereof defining the forward end of a key slot therein, said projection being normally received in said pocket with clearance to allow for vertical angling therebetween.

13. In combination, a coupler with a stem having a rear face convexly curved about a normally horizontal axis, interrupted by a rearwardly opening pocket extending from side to side, and dividing said face into upper and lower sections, and a follower the front end of which is formed with a bearing surface concavely curved about a normally horizontal axis and nesting with the rear face of said stem, said concave surface being interrupted by a portion of reverse curvature extending from one side to the other, and normally received in the coupler stem pocket with sufficient clearance for vertical angling therebetween.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

